Behind Boldin, Niners have logjam at receiver

Posted by Mike Florio on August 3, 2013, 2:24 PM EST

AP

As the first week of preseason games approaches, depth charts are starting to pop up. Though for some teams they’re minefield of misinformation, it’s the first tangible sign of how camp is shaking out.

With Michael Crabtree gone until the middle of the season at the earliest with a ruptured Achilles tendon, Anquan Boldin becomes the obvious choice for the team’s top receiver. The other starter listed on the initial depth chart is Kyle Williams, who recently was activated from the PUP list after suffering a torn ACL in 2012.

The recent arrival of Hawkins and Collie suggests that the Niners aren’t satisfied with their current corps of pass-catchers. More veterans could be added, in theory, if the current receivers don’t step up in the preseason. Likewise, Vernon Davis could end up at receiver from time to time (or more often), too.

I wouldn’t read too much into the Collie and Hawkins signings. There are just a TON of nicked up receivers right now…things like tweaked hammies. You need a ton of receivers to make practice possible (they run more than anyone else). You have to figure one of these guys will emerge into a reasonable #2. Also, don’t forget that it doesn’t necessarily need to be a WR that makes up for all of Crabtree reps. No one uses 2 TE sets more than the Niners, so Vance M’s development is just as important to watch as the fight for the #2 WR spot.

Baalke and Harbaugh get all this credit and praise from the 49er fanbase but those cats wouldn’t know a good WR if it hit them in the in the head. Those guys even missed on Doug Baldwin a WR that played under Harbaugh in college! Doug Baldwin’s better than that whole logjam of scrubs…… And None of “The Logjam” could make the Raiders’ roster. We wouldn’t even waste a practice squad spot on anyone of those receivers. Will take BJ Daniels though.

briscocountyjr says:Aug 3, 2013 2:54 PM

Boldin and a group of depth chart 4 WRs, good luck Kaep…

Iknoweverything says:Aug 3, 2013 2:56 PM

the Legion Of Doom is gonna have a field day blowing these scrubs up.
No receivers, an immature, overrated QB.
Seattle is gonna walk away with the division while Harbaugh cries and tattoolongneck goes back to “color coordinating”his attire by wearing a Seahawks cap

They are at basically the same level they were at last year at that position, as a group fairly mediocre. With Davis, their running game, and a more experienced Kaepernick, they’ll likely be stronger offensively than last season.

We all know Crabtree’s injured and not dead, right? He’ll be back by midseason, not the after life, right? Same with Manningham & Kyle Williams injuries. Oh and there’s that little matter of a top 2 running game last yr. Keep calm.

— With the exception of a small handful of teams’ fans, you all wish you were us.

— As has often been said, Seahawk fans might want to wait until their team actually wins something more than a regular season game before they start bragging. Legion of Doom? You must be kidding me. What a joke.

rainponcho87 says:Aug 3, 2013 3:14 PM

Before everyone gets all excited, it is not all that different from last year. Crabtree was the #1 and now he is replaced by Boldin. That is looking fairly equivalent. After that, the 49ers didn’t have a whole lot, especially after Kyle Williams and Manningham went down. If the 49ers can get to the playoffs with Boldin, Crabtree, and Manningham, look out. That should be a pretty good combo, especially if Crabtree can come back without too much dropoff from where he left off.

ubepunkedagain says:Aug 3, 2013 3:26 PM

Yuck..the 49ers are hurting at receiver, especially if Boldin is your #1. He is by all accounts a complimentary receiver and thrives when attention is diverted from him opposite of him. Colon will be running for his life trying to find open guys, o look for him to have some injuries.

Y’all said Crabtree was a bust just a year ago. Remember? Now, suddenly, we can’t live without him? What changed? The Kappa. Colin is the difference. Crabtree is NOT a fast receiver, he was a physical one who could fight for the ball and get YACS. He was a poor man’s Boldin. Guess what? We now have Boldin. We also have Kyle Williams. Now, while we’re ALL still mad at him, he’s quick and can get open. We have a good number of guys like that. Soon as we find one that can halfway catch (Crabtree caused a lot of int’s by having the ball bounce off his helmet, remember? Veron used to have hands of cement and couldn’t catch a tee ball, remember?) then Kap will make a star out of someone new, someone young and hungry. They got to the NFL by having the physical capabilities to get here. A chance to play with what could be the best QB we’ve had since Steve Young is what most rookies DON’T have on other teams. Because of Kap’s legs and our running game, DB’s have to play man. These WR’s will get open.

Don’t give up yet.

sdiegosteel says:Aug 3, 2013 5:34 PM

I’m looking forward to the Niners-Seahawks games this year but the wide receivers for both teams leave a lot to be desired (at least until December).

grantashe11 says:Aug 3, 2013 6:13 PM

In other words, Riley Cooper would start for this team.

northbynw27 says:Aug 3, 2013 6:20 PM

This logjam is the type that is going to require a plunger. The talent behind Boldin is nothing to be jealous of.

49erstim says:Aug 3, 2013 6:23 PM

Keep yucking it up. The NFC still goes through San Francisco

shotgunformation5wide says:Aug 3, 2013 6:47 PM

Note the 49ers schedule. They have former players from a lot of teams they play this year … counter intel so to speak. With that being said, the game should be to run, as I think they should be able to run the ball effectively against numerous teams on their schedule.

As long as it doesn’t involve a Jackie Treehorn film with Tara Reid and a cable guy I think the 49ers will be ok.

thereisfootballwestofjersey says:Aug 3, 2013 7:28 PM

The Niners have played the most games (cumulative total) of any NFL Franchise the last two years. They’ve also traveled the most miles if any NFL team the last two years. That takes a toll. This year they have to travel further (by about 5k miles) more than any other team.

Yet they’ll still be right in the mix this season and with their talent (even after all these injuries) and coaching, are still capable of going and beating any team in the league on any Sunday.

It’s an absolute certainty this franchise will contend for Super Bowls every year for the next decade. That’s all any fan can ask for.

Hate on.

hmpennypacker says:Aug 3, 2013 7:39 PM

This isn’t going to be the massive problem people think. Vernon will be used as a receiver more, and we have LaMichael James to use in the Spoles roll. Also Gore is still going to be able to pound it up the middle & Kap will create plays with his feet. Not saying its not going to be restrictive but we’ll be fine.

jayniner says:Aug 3, 2013 8:19 PM

It’s a good thing the Niners have the BEST overall running game in the league while the WR corps shakes itself out….

Thanks non Niner fans for ur input on the matter. If I’m not mistaken, the Niners are a run first team? Legion of doom?! Lol the same secondary that looks like a bunch of p*ssies when we run the ball on them. I don’t care if Seattle puts all 11 in the box the 49ers would still blow them up. Sherman is a good cover corner, but have you seen him try to stop runs on his side? Bwahahaha! He doesn’t talk when Iupati is making pancakes. “Insert new Seahawks fan really interested in 49ers articles”

man theres alot of niner haterz I see and there allll up on this niner website seems to me like there worried or on kaeps dickk hahaha we will let the team do the talking on the field u can have the slowest receiver on the team and kaep will know how and when to use him we got a squad alot of enthusiasm and too hyped up niners got a squad and ready to go everyone will step up like a champ

dstep24 says:Aug 3, 2013 9:09 PM

When I’m out fishing on the river, and I see a bunch of puny little twigs gathering at the bank, I don’t call that a logjam.

It’s effing amazing that a Raider fan can come on here and make a statement like ” they wouldn’t even have a practice squad spot on the Raiders” Really? I forgot how good the Raiders WR’s are. Raider football the last 11 years, the worst. This year ranked 32 of 32 teams. NO room to talk and compare.

thefox61 says:Aug 4, 2013 2:49 PM

With no WRs the 49ers will rely on the run. Opposing defenses will have a field day against the 1 dimensional 49ers. Will be lucky to go 2-6 by the time Crabtree is back.